I’M SURE that when I journeyed between my home and university, back in the day, all I travelled with was a holdall and a hiking rucksack.
Roll on more years than I care to mention and my teenage daughter required everything except the kitchen sink and bathroom shower – those were handily supplied by her halls of residence.
When we took her from our home near Glasgow to start her uni life at St Andrews last September, we needed both the supermini and compact SUV we own to transport everything.
But, luckily for me, when the time came to collect her at the end of the academic year, I had Korean brand SsangYong’s large Rexton SUV on test.
And it ticked a lot more than the many boxes and bags that filled it because this seven-seater delivers on bold but sophisticated looks, a plush interior and driving enjoyment – as well as its ability to carry a vast amount of stuff.
The rear and middle row seats fold easily to create a massive 1806 litres of loadspace that took repeated trips from my daughter’s uni flat to the car park to fill to the gunwales.
A smart powered tailgate that opened automatically upon approach was also really helpful. It really showed off the incredible flexibility of the Rexton, which can comfortably carry a family and the kids’ pals while still providing a 240-litre boot for outdoor gear or the weekly shop.
And whether virtually empty or fully laden, this big beast was enjoyable to drive, with a truly commanding view of the world around you complemented by refined characteristics.
The pulling power is provided by a new 2.2-litre turbo diesel mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and they work extremely well together.
There is good acceleration throughout the range, with the 202PS available giving it a top speed of 114mph, while the dash to 62mph takes 11 seconds. But despite a kerb weight of 2180kg, it can still average an impressive 32.9mpg, with tailpipe emissions of 225g/km.
Adding to the versatility, a simple twist of a dial allows the driver to choose between two-wheel drive or two all-wheel modes.
The 2WD is ideal for normal on-road driving as, powering the rear wheels, it enhances acceleration and superior steering performance over more usual front-wheel-drive systems.
A 4H mode is great for more slippery conditions or off-road use, while 4L is ideal for when maximum 3.5-tonne towing capacity is required.
Meanwhile, a choice of eco, power or winter drive modes enhance the experience at the wheel even further.
And both I and my wife and daughter really appreciated the plush interior of the top-spec Ultimate model – priced from £40,665 on the road – that I was driving for a week.
Aside from the perforated nappa leather seat upholstery, there was some attractive patterned metallic detailing and a superb balance of soft-touch and durable plastic finishing.
This Rexton is richly equipped, too, with a heated steering wheel and heated seats throughout, while the front pair are ventilated, too.
A configurable 12.3in driver’s screen gives access to a wealth of important information, including navigation, while the centre console houses a 9.2in infotainment screen.
Aside from providing superb smartphone connectivity and the like, I made great use of the 3D around-view system when parking in some tight spaces in St Andrews.
Other convenience features included keyless entry and start, auto lights (including high beam) and wipers, and dual-zone air con.
A plethora of safety and assistance functions include driver attention alert, lane change and rear cross traffic collision warnings and trailer sway control – the list is exhaustive.
SsangYong’s Rexton makes a style statement when it is out and about, too – a deep grille with chrome details and contrasting horizontal light clusters make it instantly noticeable.
It looks positively muscular in profile, with strong 18in diamond-cut alloys, while rear highlights include attractive LED light clusters and a dual tailpipe finish integrated into the bumper.
I can only hope that I have a similar vehicle available when I take my daughter back to uni – although I’m not letting her know about the trailer capabilities.
